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Monday, November 1, 2010

Sparkle Stitches~ Bloomers lvl2!

Have you mastered the Budget Bloomers? Want something a little fancier or more challenging? Welcome to level 2, Bloomers with a Ruffle at the Hem!

Today I will show you how to make bloomers from the same 1 yard of fabric, but with a little ruffle on the edge, how cute!

First, cut out your pieces just like regular bloomers. Now, you need to learn the lvl2 skill of... MAKING BIAS TAPE!!!

It is not that hard, I promise But you can always just buy pre-made bias tape if you don't feel like making your own.

BUT for the brave challenger, here we GO!

Take some of the scrap fabric from cutting out your bloomers. Bias is at a 45* angle to the selvage. The easiest way to find 45 degrees is to draw a 2"X2" box on your fabric with the selvage as one of the sides of the box. Connect two opposing corners of the box, and it will be 45*! Extend that line until you reach the opposite edge of the fabric. Now draw parallel lines at double the finished width of your bias tape. So if you want a 3/4" finished width, draw the lines 1.5" apart.

Stitch your bias strips together into one long strip, iron flat the seam allowances, and fold in the long edges to meet in the middle. It is easier to just show photos

A completed bias strip

Showing the edges

A bias strip will not unravel, so it is useful for binding edges or as a casing.

Next, determine how wide you want your ruffle to be. Add your hem allowance, and draw a guideline at the top of the ruffle

The blue line is where I will put my elastic

Put your bias strip on the line you just drew and pin in place

Pin at the line

Stitch the bias tape on both folded edges so you are left with the short ends open. Turn up your hem allowance, press, pin, and stitch. It is much easier to hem now rather than after elasticizing. Thread your leg elastic through and secure the ends.

Finish the bloomers just like the basic Budget Bloomers. Sew up each inseam (I like to tack the seam allowance open at the elastic line), turn one leg inside out and put it inside the other leg, sew the crotch line, turn down the waistband, press, pin, sew, and thread elastic. Then you should have this:

And worn:

These lvl2 Bloomers take a bit more time to make, but are still relatively simple and just a bit fancier. I would probably sell these for $15 if you are looking to sell your own or buy some from me ;)